From the next academic year, UAE schools will enforce new age limits for kindergarten and Grade 1 admissions, affecting eligibility and enrollment for young children across the country.
Kindergarten and Grade 1 admissions in UAE to follow new age criteria from next year
The UAE has introduced a new age cut-off for kindergarten and Grade 1 admissions for the 2026–2027 academic year, following approval from the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council.
Under the updated policy, children must reach the age requirement by December 31 of the admission year. Previously, the cut-off date was August 31. This new rule will apply to all schools and kindergartens that commence in August or September, while institutions beginning in April will continue to follow a March 31 cut-off. Existing students are not affected, as the change applies only to new admissions.
For students transferring between schools, switching curricula—such as British, American, or other international systems—or relocating to the UAE from abroad, placement will be determined based on the last successfully completed grade and academic progression, in accordance with the approved grade equivalency guidelines.
The updated age requirement is intended to standardize early education access across the country, ensuring consistency in admissions. It also aims to align UAE education policies with international practices and support national development objectives.
| Level | British Curriculum | French Curriculum | Other International Curricula | Age Requirement (by Dec 31 of admission year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | FS1 (Foundation Stage 1) | Petite Section (PS) | Pre-Kg (Pre-kindergarten) | 3 years old |
| KG1 | FS2 (Foundation Stage 2) | Moyenne Section (MS) | KG1 | 4 years old |
| KG2 | Year 1 | Grande Section (GS) | KG2 | 5 years old |
| Grade 1 | Year 2 | Cours Préparatoire (CP) | Grade 1 | 6 years old |
Thorough study behind new move
The revised policy is based on national and international studies evaluating children’s readiness across key developmental areas, such as cognitive, social-emotional, language, and motor skills. Findings from these assessments indicated that while age plays a role, overall school readiness depends on a combination of various developmental factors.Researchers examined a national dataset comprising over 39,000 students who had previously enrolled at ages 3, 4, and 5 under the old cut-off system.
Analysis of academic performance showed that early enrollment did not result in any significant disadvantages. In fact, in certain cases, children who began school at age 3 achieved higher academic outcomes, whereas students who started later sometimes performed slightly lower.
The updated age policy aims to promote fairness and consistency in school admissions, support smoother transitions across different curricula, and align early education expectations more closely with age-appropriate developmental milestones.
FNC proposal last year
The significant update follows a proposal put forward last year in the Federal National Council (FNC), which highlighted the difficulties faced by parents of children born shortly after the previous August 31 cut-off. These children often found themselves in a difficult position during admissions, as they were deemed too young for formal schooling but too old for preschool, forcing families to wait an entire year before their child could start school.
The matter was formally discussed in the FNC on December 18, with members urging the Ministry of Education to reconsider the age cut-off, particularly for children born in October and November, a common birth period among local families.
Previously, a 2021 ministerial directive had set the minimum age for kindergarten admission at four years old as of August 31 in the year of entry. During the council meeting, Saeed Al Aabdi, representing Ras Al Khaimah, requested that Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri consider allowing a three-month exception to this rule to accommodate affected children.
